Light-projecting device



Sept. 25, 1928.

E. P. MCCLURE LIGHT PROJECTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 23, 1926 Sept. 25, 1928.

E. P. MCCLURE LIGHT PROJECTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 23, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet -2 Patented Sept. 25, 1928.

UNITED STATES ELMER P, MCCLURE, OF LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS.

LIGHT-PROJECTING DEVICE.

Application led February 23, 1926. Serial No. 89,848.

One of the objects is to provide a light projector in which the objectionable glare is not present whenthe observers are look-v ing from a horizontal plane above the shield and reflector.

Another object is to provide a lighting device which will produce, on a flat plane below it, a relatively wide field of illu1nination of substantially uniform intensity.

Another object is to provide improved means for relatively adjusting the lamp in the focal point of the projector, or reflector, by relatively moving the reflector and holding it in its adjusted position.

A further object is to provide an improved lighting device for automobiles and the like.

Other objects, advantages and benefits will appear to persons skilled in the art from a consideration of the following description, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a front view of an automobile, in broken lines, with the device in place thereon;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the device;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view thereof, taken on line III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the lamp holding structure;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the structure shown in Figure 4 taken on line V-V of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a pla-n view of the device.

In all the views the same reference characters indicate similar parts.

As shown on the drawings:

The device about to be described is intended to be secured to the front of an automobile,as shown in Figure 1, and arranged to produce a relatively wide lighted field in the middle of the roadway between the wheels of the ear and of uniform intensity and so arranged that the light will not shine into the eyes of a person approaching the lights, at a short distance, when the observing point is above the horizontal plane in which the device is located and which will bend the direct rays downwardly, which would otherwise be projected upwardly and become useless for the purpose of illuminating the roadway.

The casing 10 is made of sheet metal,

planished on its inside surface, the better to reflect light. It is elongated and is preferably made of one sheet llexcept that it has ends or heads 12, secured to the bent sheet by suitable means as by screws 13. The casing has a contracted open end 14v through which light is to be projected.

The part described forms a hood, which has the upper end of the sheet extending beyond the lower end 15 thereof to form a shield and reflector 16. The part 16 extends forwardly and is inclined downwardly until its extreme edge 17 is in a horizontal plane in which the sockets 18 are located.

The part 16 serves as a glare shield andthe under surface thereof operates as a reflector to direct the light rays downwardly upon the roadway.

A lamp holder 19 is located in the hood to support the lamp sockets 18. The holder consists of an elongated strip of metal having spaced perforations to receive lamp sockets 18 which may be screwed thereinto.

The sockets are exteriorly threaded for the purpose and a'check nut 20 holds the socket firmly in the holder.

A reflector 21 is provided with a threaded sleeve 22 which is axially movable on the socket to adjust the focal point of the relector with respect to the lamp 23.

The center contacts of the sockets are each made of a relatively short strip of metal 24 insulated from and secured to the holder 19 by washers 25 and screws 26, respectively. The free ends are bent to form spring knees 27 and terminate in feet 28 which serve as center contacts of the sockets 18.

The holder 19 isV secured to the casing 10 by screws 29 which pass through the rear curved wall of the casing and through the feet 19 of the holder.

The, device may be secured to a selected part of the automobile by screws 30. Wires 31 are connected to a suitable source of electrical supply. The return circuit is through the frame of the car and the body of the device.

The entire device may he made of parts stamped out from sheet metal, thus rendering the cost of manufacture very low. The structure is such that it may very conveniently and effectively be made of planished I sheet aluminum.

The broken lines show the direction of the reflected rays of light bent downwardly by theY reflector 16 and which would other- Wise cause a glare and be offensive to persons approaching in another car.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to securev by Letters Patent, is

In a device of the class described, a casing,r formed from a unitary sheet of material bent so that the edges' thereof project in substantially the saine direction, side Walls Von said casing to complete a chamber therein, a holder for a plurality of lamps entirely Within said casing, and an adjustable reflector for each of said lamps, vthe lower edge of said casing terminating substantially in a plane including` the extremities of said lamps, and the upper portion of said casing being inclined downwardly in the form of a visor and extending substantially to a horizontal Vplane including the ariesV of said lamps, said casing permitting` both direct and reflected rays to emanate therefrom.

ln testimony whereof l have hereunto subscribed my name.v

ELMER P. MGCLURE. 

